Apparatus for trimming and similarly distributing coal and other materials.



A. MUSKER.

APPARATUS FOR TRIMMING AND SIMILARLY DISTRIBUTING COAL AND OTHER MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25, 1917.

1,309,584. Patented July 8, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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A. MUSKER.

APPARATUS FOR TRIMMING ND SlMlLARLY DISTRIBUTING COAL AND OTHER MATERIALS.

APPLICATION HLED IAN. 25 15H]- 1,309,584 Patented July 8, 19M).

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A. MUSKER.

APPARATUS FOR TRIMMING AND sum/mu msmsunm; COAL AND omen mmmus.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25. I917- Patented July 8, 1919.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR MUSKER, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR TRIMMING AND SIMILARLY DISTRIBUTING COAL AND OTHER MATERIALS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, 1919.

Application filed January 25, 1917. Serial No. 144,453.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR Musnnn, a subject of the King of England, residing at London, in the county of Middlesex, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Trimming and Simi larly Distributing Coal and other Materials, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to the trimming or distributing of coal and other materials in bulk.

For convenience the invention will be described, mainly, as applied to the trimming or distributing of coal in the bunkers of ships.

The coal is delivered in a loose condition to the ships bunker in any known way, and is trimmed and distributed all over the bunkers bymeans of reciprocating means or devices which are arranged at or near the. top of the bunker, and adapted to effect the trimming, distribution, and filling up of the bunkers by their movement.

The devices may be in the form of plates, bars, blocks, rakes or their equivalent; or may comprise a combination of such devices. Further, such devices may be carried on suitable members, loosely or rigidly connected together into a form of frame or framework, which is supported in position in guides, arranged on or at the top sides or walls of the bunker.

When the devices are in the form of plates, bars, rakes or the like, they are in some cases rigidly attached to the carrying members, while in others they are connected thereto by pivots or hinges. The plates, bars, rakes or the like are straight or curved from end to end, or from the upper to the 1 lower edge; and may be so disposed on the members, that they move and distribute the coal forward, or to the sides, or to the middle, or in all of these directions.

When blocks are employed, these are generally used in conjunction with the other forms of devices, although there may be some forms of bunkers where this form of device is serviceable alone. These blocks may be of any suitable shape, and are provided with plane or curved edges; and are useful in connection with hatchways, serving to wholly or partially open and close the same during their movements.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section showing it applied to a ship, and to filling the coal bunkers with coal, say for steam raising in the boilers; and Fig. 2 is a cross section, and Fig. 3 a plan of same.

Referring in the first instance to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, 1 represents a hatch, generally called the saddle hatch through which the coal may be supplied to all the coal bunkers at the sides of the boiler room or space-that is, to the bunkers 4, 5, and 6; and the bunkers 7, 8 and 9 on the opposite side of the transverse bulkhead 10. The hatch 1 extends between say the deck 3, and the shelter deck 2. The upper deck is marked 12, and the second deck 13. Each of these decks has a hatch 15 giving access to the atter-tweendeck and lower hold bunkers; and also a hatch 16 in each of the forward bunkers.

The coal is all introduced through the hatch 1, and falls into the first bunker 4, and from this bunker it passes to the bunkers 5 and 6 below, through the hatches 15; and also from the bunker 4 it is moved by the distributing or trimming devices to the forward bunker 7, whence it falls down through the hatches 16 to the bunkers 8 and 9 below.

18 represents generally the boiler "room, and 19 one of the boilers.

Regarding the coal distributing and trimming devices shown in Figs. 1 to in each of the bunkers 4 and 5 there are provided in the upper part near the deck, movable bars 20, and stationary frames 21, having pivoted projecting devices 22 connected with them.

The bars 20 in this case are suitably supported and work in guides or supports 23 on the deck or sides or walls of the bunker.

In this arrangement the trimming or distributing devices 22 in the bunkers 4,7 and 5 are all carried and pivoted on the stationary frames 21, and the bars 20 are mounted and move in the guides 23 and in guides 23 on the cross bars 21 of the frame; and when moved longitudinally of the frame, pins 2 1 on the bar act on arms 25 on the center of the pivoted plate devices 22; and the arrangement ofthe parts is such that when the bar 20 is moved, these devices 22 depend down from their supported carriers, and are adapted when moved in one direction to engage with and move the coal for distributing it over the bunker; while in the movement in the opposite direction the devices 22 rock upon their hinges or pivots and ride over the coal.

The numeral 26 designates a vertical reciprocatory bar, having pivotal connection with ivoted bell-crank levers 26 having pivotal connection with pitmen 27 which are pivoted to the bars 20. It is thus seen that means are provided to reciprocate the bars 20.

The outer ends of the bars 20 of the bunkers 5 and 6, extend to the bunkers 8 and 9,

i and have simple blocks or projecting devices 22 upon them under the hatches 16; those in the case shown being of angular form generally; but the shapes and forms of these blocks or devices22 will vary according to the size of the bunker, and the relation of the position of the hatch to the walls of the bunker, and-other conditions.

In the lowermost hold bunker 6, the device 22 which comes under the hatch 15, consists simply of a projecting plate fixed on the reciprocating bar 20.

The length of stroke or movement of the devices will be in an average case say from two ft. to four ft. but they may exceed this maximum, or be less than this minimum.

As stated, as to whether the trimming devices 22 be at right angles to the longitudinal members or carriers, or have inclined surfaces, or curved surfaces, or are inclined in either one or more directions, this will depend upon the direction in which the coal has to be trimmed, having regard to the shape of the bunker and the osition of the hatchway, and where the bu ers are formed. That is, in special cases, different forms of devices 22 will be used at different points, so as to deflect or trim the coal, whether from the middle of the length of the bunker, or toward same, oras may be desired.

so that in their movement past these beams or projections, the liability of a lump of coal coming between them and jamming or blocking the apparatus is obviated.

In the operation of the arrangement in Figs. 1 to 3, the whole of the material delivered to the several bunkers is first introduced through the one hatch 1; and by gravity to a large extent, it passes from the first hold 4 to those below through the hatches 15; while that to be introduced and delivered to the forward bunker 7 is moved and trimmed from the bunker 4: longitudinally on the deck 12after the lower bunkers are fullby the reciprocating trimming or distributing devices 22; for which purpose the devices 22 used are pivoted, and they extend up to or near to the bunker 7, as well as working below the hatch 1. 7

Between the bunkers 1 and the bunker 7 the bulk head 10 does not extend. M

This pivoted or movable type of trimming device 22 is very desirab le,if not necessary, for distributing or trimming 'coal under such conditions.

In the bunker 5 in Figs. 1 to 3, the distributing devices 22 are also of the pivoted type, and will distribute it practically uniformly, so as to jfill this bunker 5'; while in bunker 8 to fill it completely or practically completely, the trimming device consists of a stationary block or body 22; and the same applies to the distribution and filling up of the bunker 9. In bunker 6 only gilile plate 22 is required to trim the coal and When thecoal or material in any bunker or hold reaches the plane and path. within which the reciprocatingfdevices 22 work,

they act upon it; and in theirmotion push it away and trim the coal in such a way that upward, become completely or practically completely filled up all over, to the deck beams, in succession.

- I claim:

, eventually all the bunkers from the bottom v 1. Apparatus for distributing coal in sponding number of pivoted g bell' crank levers arranged near corresponding ends of said bars, pltmen connect ng the bell-crank levers and bars, and a vertically arranged reciprocatory bar connected with the bellcrank levers to operate them.

2. The combination with the bunkers of a ship having feed openings inthe tops thereof, of a plurality of horizontal .reciprocatory bars arranged within the bunkers near and beneath the tops thereof, feed devices connected with the bars to be moved thereby and arranged near the feedropenings,'a corresponding number of pivoted bell crank name to this specification in the presence of levers arranged near correspondingfinds of the subscribing witnesses.

said bars pitmen connecting the be crank levers and bars, a vertically arranged recip- ARTHUR MUSKER' rocatory bar connected with the bell crank Witnesses:

levers, and means to move the vertically ar- GEORGE D. Csnrnnnmsr, ranged reciprocatory bar. G. D. Csnmmsr,

In testimony whereof I have signed my LOUISA MAUD ROBINSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

